Custom Power Button

[MrDark]

Hello all, I'm new here (Just happened to find this place using Google while searching for my answer)

This is my first time building a custom case (I'm pretty handy, but I havent built a rig in a while and thought what the hell, Ill do the case too)

Anyway, the case isn't my problem (That's simple, Im just using a wooden frame thats a bit broad, sanding it and painting it glossly black, then cutting a dado in each piece to slide 6 sheets of plexi on each side)

My problem is I completely forgot about the electrical work.

I never work with electrical, other than the occasional mod chip installation, but with LEDs and Switches, etc etc, I am lost.

Now that I went through all that fun stuff, I wanted to know if its possible to make a power switch out of any type of electrical switch.

For instance, say I wanted to use something like this

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062493&cp=2032058.2032230.2032278&allCount=68&fbn=Type%2FSPST&f=PAD%2FProduct+Type%2FSPST&fbc=1&parentPage=family

For my switch, how would I connect it? What types of components would I need? Should I also get a reset button as well?

Any help would be appreciated!


[If this is the wrong forum sorry, please feel free to transfer it where it needs to be)

[calumc]

Yes any kind of switch will do the job but you'll need the connectors for the mobo. The easiest way to get these would probably be to just rip them out of an old case and connect your own switch to them.
A reset button wouldnt be absolutely necessary seeing as most BIOSes will allow you to configure the power button to power off when held down for x seconds.

[jbaldwinroberts]

You can just connect the switch to the wires that the old switch came on as calumc said, but im pretty sure that the reset and power switches must have a momentary action. i.e. the circuit is only complete when you press the button in and then breaks again when you stop pressing the power switch in, as this is what the motherboard detects.

- Joe

[Slatter]

you can most definitely use that switch... but as Joe said, that computers use momentary switches. in such cases (for example mine) all you have to do is flick the switch up and as soon as the computers comes on you switch it down again. you can also get these switches with momentary function as well, but are very hard to find.

good luck

[NightrainSrt4]

I used this EXACT switch in my project, Nightrain. To be honest, I never want to use another type of switch again. It works awesome. And I never have to worry about accidentally switching the pc off by hitting the button. Just wire it up like you would a normal switch and flip it up for a couple seconds then hit the lid back down. Best switch I have ever used.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8247/dsc01269ru0.jpg

[MrDark]

Now what if I didn't have access to a connector? (I don't have access to the connector, haha)

Thats why I was curious as to how I would rig it if not



Any suggestions how I should do it?


Also, Nightrain, nice!

[NightrainSrt4]

You need two wires. I think I used 18 or 20 gauge. Heatshrink the two wires to the correct places on the switch. If you don't have one of those little power switch things that attaches to the mobo, you can just shrink the wires to the little pins on the mobo. Just be careful thats all.

[MrDark]

Well I suppose that would work, not as clean as I hope, but hell, at least you guys are making suggestions. Thanks!

[NightrainSrt4]

Ya, it isn't as clean as it could be, but without one of those pin connectors it isn't going to be.

If you can find some old beater case around, or on Craigslist or something just snag the power wire from it. Thats what I did. Just solder the wires from your switch to the pin connector wires, shrink over that, then use some sleeving and your set.

Thats what I did on mine, which isn't the cleanest, but ehh. I used a butane lighter to heat the shrink to it would get the black on it to match the case. The red shrink alone was a little much.

[MrDark]

Yeah, I could always wait it out, I actually spent a lot of cash on the rig this time, high quality parts and what not. I got a striker and it actually has a power button on the board for testing in case of errors so that would be useful at least until I find an alternative.

Ill stop by the radioshack later, I guess I should actually worry about getting the rest of the cuts in the wood and plexi, haha

[jbaldwinroberts]

Im sure that you can probably buy spare power leads really cheaply from radioshack or whatever shop they have where you live. I got a spare switch with a lead so that i could test motherbaords more easily for £1.50 ($3.00 us) from maplins.

-Joe

[Xpirate]

You might be able to get a momentary on toggle switch and put the Radio Shack cover on it. I believe that the switch you are looking at is not momentary on. I've checked around for switches like that and that Radio Shack one is the cheapest. Most places charge over $10 just for the cover and you buy the actual switch separately.

[gntlkilr]

I myself use a combination of frozenCPU.com and newark.com. They've got the whos who of switches, connectors, etc that you could need. About the only thing I use radioshack for is resistors anymore.

Here's your switch (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5811/ele-244/Military_Style_Switch_w_Red_Acrylic_Cover.html?tl= g44c153s318)

and here's the power connector (http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1824/ele-176/FrozenCPU_EZ_Bulgin_Switch_Cable_-_2-Pin_Power_SW.html?tl=g44c153s319)

You can get them sleeved in other colors besides the green UV that they show.